Air compressing and cooling apparatus.



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Patented Dec.`24, I90I.

(Application med Apr. 9, 1901.) l(llo Model.)

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Wl TNE SSE S No. 689,702. Patented nec. 24, 190|.

` n. BERG. AIB CDMPBESSING AND CUULING APPARATUS.

(Application led Apr. 9, 1901.)

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WIT/VESSES No. 689,702. Patented nec. 24, |901.

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AIR COMPRESSING AND CL'ING APPARATUS. (Application med Apr. 9, 1901.)(un musei.) a sheets-sheet s.

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. and CoolingApparatus, of which the follow- 'UNITEn.: STATES PATENTFEIOE.

Rupo/nr Jenaer,- OE PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, AssieNoa or ONE-HALETOEERDINAND wENie, OE PIT'rsEUEG, PENNSYLVANIA.

f AIR COMPRESSINGAND COOLING APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent N o. 689,702, dated December2 4, 19.01.

Application flied Aprii 9, 1901.'

To all whom it may concern).-

Be it known-.that I, RUDOLF BERG, a citizen of the United States,residing in Pittsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State ofPennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inAinCompressing ing is a specification.

This inventionV relates to certain improvements in the air compressingand c ooling apparatus for which Ijetters Patent of the United Stateswere granted to me on J une 13, 1899, No. 626,883, said improvementsbeing designed with a view offimproving the heatexchangersor'heat-absorbers shown therein and of combiningthe suctionand'discharge valves in such a manner that a more effective action ofthe apparatus is obtained and the various defects inherent in thedifferent constructions of air-compressors heretofore in use areobviated; and for this purpose the invention consists in thecombination, in an air compressing and cooling apparatus, of an eX-terior casing, a piston-cylinder in the same open at one end andconstantly communicating at its open end with the interior of thecasing, a piston .working in said cylinder, valve-chamberscommunicatingwith the piston-cylinder and the casing, suction anddischarge valves in said chambers, and heat exchangers or absorberssupported one between said valves and the piston-cylinder andv the otherbetween the valves andthe casing.

The invention consists, further, in certain other combinationof parts,which will -fully be set forth hereinafterand finally pointed out in theclaims.k

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 'l` represents a vertical centralsection of my improved air compressing and cooling apparatus of thevertical type. Fig. 2 is a similar section through the main portion ofmy improved compressordrawn on a 'larger scale. Fig. 3 is a diagrammaticplan View of the improved heat exchangers or absorbers used in theapparatus, and Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail vertical transverse sectionof one of the suction and discharge valves preferably used.

Similar letters of reference indicate correspending parts.

Referring to the drawings, A represents the Serial No. 55,046. (Nomodel.)

exterior cylindrical casing of my improved air compressing and coolingapparatus.v The casing A is supported on an upright frame F, which isprovided with legs, which are supported at their lower ends on asuitable bedplate, while the upper parallel portions of said uprightframe form ways for a sliding cross-head F', to which reciprocatingmotion is imparted from the crank of the'driving- Shaft S by a4connecting-rod F2, as shown in Fig. 1. Y*

At the interior of the casing A isarranged a cylinder C, whichis open atthe lower end. In the cylinder C is reciprocated a piston P, thepiston-rod P of which is guided in a suity able stu'fiing-box irr` thecenter of thecasing A and connected at its lower end with the slidingcross-head F in the usual manner.

The upper end of the casing A is 'attached to a second cylindricalcasing AQ in which the suction and discharge valves E for the cylinder Cand casingA are located. 'The casing A' is composed of a central sectionA3, an intermediate concentric partition-wall A4, and an exteriorportion, which latter is bolted to the upper end of the casing A, whilethe cylinder C is attached to the lower end of the partition. Theexterior wall, intermediate partition, and interior portion of thecasing A form two annular spaces, above which the suction and dischargevalves lE are arranged and in which the heat exchangers or absorbers Cand C2 are located, as vshown in Figs. 1'.

and 2. The casing A is surmounted by an upper or top portion A2, whichiseither made integral with the casing A', as shown in FigiV 1, orattached thereto in a suitable manner:` The top portion A2 of the casingA is'con'- nected with an inlet-pipe Q for the air, whilev the upperportion of the casing A abovetlie valves is connected with anoutlet-pipe P' for the delivery of the compressed and cooled air.

The cylinder C, as well as the exterior casing A, is illed with water orother suitable liquid, which is supplied to the cylinder and casing by apipe G, branched at its-upper end, as shown -in Fig-2. Each branch o't'the supply-pipe G is provided with a stop-cock, the stop-cock K beingarranged in the branch pipe leading to the space in thecylinder C rangedin the branch pipe leading to the space below the piston, saidstop-cocks acting in the nature of check-valves, respectively, for thespaces above and below the piston. The incoming end of the supply-pipe Gis also provided with a stop-cock H, and between the same and the branchpipes is located a regulating-valve I, by which the supply of water isregulated while the compressor is in motion and shut off when thecompressor is not in motion without requiring the shutting and closingof the stop-cock H. The regulatingvalve I is composed of a cylindricalvessel provided with an overflow-pipe at its upper end and a oat-valvefor the supply end of the pipe G. The water or othercoolingliquid fillsall the spaces in the cylinder and casing, the presence of which exertsordinarily an injurious influence onvthe proper running of theapparatus. As the water on one side of the piston balances the Water onthe other side of the same, there is but a comparatively small forcerequired for moving the piston and forcing the water to and fro in thecylinder and casing.

The cylinder C is preferably made of brass or bronze, and the piston Pis made cupshaped, so that sand orother impurities which are carriedalong by the water will be collected atthe centerof the pistonwithoutinjuring the circumference of the same. The piston P is providedat the bottom with a plug U', while the lower part of the casing isprovided with a suitable hand-hole and a handhole cover T, so as topermit the cleaning of the piston and casing from time to time in aquick and convenient manner. The top part of the cylinder C is providedwith a screwplug U, which when removed furnishes an opening for theintroduction of a nozzle and rubber hose, so as to clean'the space abovethe piston by the water injected in the same. In the annular spacesbelow the suction and discharge valves are arranged the spiral heatexchangers and absorbers C C2, which are constructed of a sheet-metalcoil, the convolutions of which inclose narrow spaces d d2, as sh'own inFig. 3. 'lhe larger coil C', which is located in the annular' spaceinclosed by the intermediate casing A and the intermediate partition A4,is supported by inwardlyprojecting.r lugs NV, cast on the casing A,while the coil C2, which is located in the annular space between thepartition A4 and the interior portion A3 of the casing A', is supportedon the outwardly-projecting lugs X, that are attached to theunder sideof the top portion of the cylinder C, asshown in Fig. 2. The coils areplaced in position in their respective spaces before the intermediatecasing A is attached by its screw-bolts to the main casing A. The airthat is drawn in through the spaces between the spiral coils C' C2 iscompressed at a uniformly low temperature, for the reason that the heatof compression is absorbed by the metal of the coils. Vhen the pistonapproaches the dead-point at its upward stroke, the interstices betweenthe convolutions of the inner coil are filled with the Water or othercooling medium, while when the piston approaches the dead-point at itsdownstroke the cooling medium fills the interstices between theconvolutions of the outer coil, so that the temperature of the coils islowered 4 to 6 centigrade and the heat before absorbed by them isremoved. The coils are thus always in good condition for absorbing theheat produced by the compression of the air due to the strokes of thepiston and for giving it olf again to the cooling-water that is forcedAalternately through the coils.

The preferred form of suction and discharge valves is shown in detail inFig. 4. It is composed of a suction-valve B and a discharge-valve A0,provided, respectively, with valve-seats D C3. The valves are formed ofsuperposed rubber rings, which are retained on the inlet-tube G by meansof bushings E', that are provided with retaining-flanges at their upperends,so as to prevent the too-quick wearing of the rubber valves. Thevalveseats D C3 are strengthened by radial ribs D2 C4, respectively, andare supported on a bottom disk I', which is suspended from the upperpart of the inlet-tube G by means of a bolt K', that is screwed into acentral screwthreaded socket in said disk I, While its upper threadedend is passed through a center sleeve H of the inlet-tube G andsupported thereon by a screw-nut K2. The valves B A0, the valve-seats DC3, bottom disk I', inlettube G, and bolt K form together the suctionand discharge valves E. The valve-chambers, within which the suction anddischarge valves are contained, are formed at one side by the casing A'and at the other side by the interior wall A3. These valves are rigidlyattached by a flanged top ring L and stud-bolts L to projecting seats Mat the interior of the casing A. The inlettube, top ring, andvalve-seats of the suction and discharge valves are either ground attheir ends, so as to fit snugly and tightly together, or they aretightly connected by means of interposed rubber gaskets R R2 R3 R4. Themotion of the discharge-valve A0 is limited by means of projecting lugsG2, formed ou the outside of the inlet-tube G. The air is sucked in fromthe space S above the suction and discharge valves and discharged intothe spaces U2. The interior ring-shaped seats M and N serve to supportthe valves and separate in connection with the same the suction-spacefrom the discharge-space. The suction and discharge valves are also welladapted for use in hydraulic pumps and have'many advantages as comparedwith the valvesl heretofore in use for the following reasons: First, thepumps can be constructed much smaller, as considerable space is saved;secondly, the valves require but comparatively small motion; thirdly,the valves form at the same time the suction and discharge'chambers, sothat the IOO IIC

air-chambers heretoforek required are done away with, which is animportant feature, while, lastly, the shocks and hammering are entirelyavoided.

The advantages of my improved air compressing and cooling apparatus areas follows:

First. The piston-spaces of the'air or gas compressors are each providedwith a heat-y absorbing coil of sheet metal for cooling the air or gasto a uniform low temperature.

Second. The compressor is so constructed that no bubbles are formed andthat at each end of the piston-stroke, the last air or gas particle isdischarged.

Third. The cylinder piston and casing of the compressor are soconstructed that they are not injured by sand or other impurities andthat they can be readily and conveniently cleaned.

Fourth. The compressor can be arranged in horizontal aswell as inVertical position.

Fifth. The water-regulating and stop de- Y vices, as well asl theseparator N', with its pipes M R O, which are made of similarconstruction, furnish a uniform supply of cooling-water and remove it inthe same proportion as supplied.

Sixth. The suction and discharge valves can be used for air or gascompressors and for Awater and other pumps, as before mentioned.

A large number o-f valves can be arranged, and as the valve-chamber canbe used as an airchamber a separate air-chamber can be dispensed with,while the valves are subjected to very little wear, so that they havegreater durability than the valves heretofore in use..

Seventh. The improved compressor has the advantage that explosions dueto the mixture of hot air and vaporizedlubricating-oil are entirelyobviated, whereby a continuous source of danger present inair-compressors without cooling liquids is dispened with.

Eighth. The compressor supplies a perfectly purerand cool current of airthat is well adapted for the ventilation of large spaces occupied bygreat numbers of people and for the cooling of storage-warehouses,hospitals, hotels, &c.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent- 1. In an air compressing and coolingappaf ratus, thecombination of an exterior casing, a piston-cylinder in the same, openat one end, and .constantly communicating at its open end with theinterior-ofthe casing, a piston workin g in said cylinder,valve-chambers communicating with the piston-cylinder and tlie'casing,suction and discharge valves in said chambers, and heat exchangers orabsorbers supported one between said valves and the piston-cylinder, andthe other between the valves and the casing, substantially as set forth.

2. In an air compressing and cooling apparatus, the combination of anexterior casing, a piston-cylinder in the same, open at one end, andconstantly communicating at its open endwith the interior of the casing,a piston in said cylinder, concentric annular spaces communicating, onewith the pistoncylinder and the other with the casing, valvechamberscommunicating with the said annular spaces, suction and discharge valvesin said valve-chambers, and heat exchangers or absorbers arranged insaid annular spaces, substantially as set forth.

3. In an air compressing and cooling apparatus, the combination of anexterior casing, a piston-cylinder in the sanne, open at one end, whereit communicates with the interior of the casing, a piston in saidcylinder, valvechannbers, suction' and discharge valves in saidvalve-chambers, annular spaces formed between the valve-chambers and thepistoncylinder and casing, one space for the cylinder and one for thecasing, andheat-exchang' ers or absorbing-coils supported in saidannular spaces, substantially as set forth.

4. In an air compressing and cooling appa-V ratus, the combination of anexterior casing, a piston-cylinder in the same, open at one end andcommunicating with the interior` of the' casing,'a piston in saidcylinder, valve-v chambers, suction and discharge valves in saidchambers, concentric annular spaces, one between the Valve-chamber andthe piston cylinder, and the other between said chain-v bers and thecasing, and sheet-metal heat: exchangers or absorbing-coils in saidannular spaces, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoingas my invention I have signed myname in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

RUDOLF BERG.

Witnesses:

FERDINAND W'ENIG, S. J. TooLE.

